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Depending on the fanbase, area high school football enthusiasts will point to different bygone eras as "the golden age" of football in the Mahoning Valley.
Niles fans are quick to mention the 1960s when the Red Dragons won a pair of state titles in the midst of a 48-game unbeaten streak.
Warren backers are rightfully quick to point toward the 1970s, when the Harding-Reserve rivalry was at its peak, and when both schools took turns climbing to the peak of greatness.
Youngstown Cardinal Mooney fans enjoy a plethora of history. The Don Bucci era spanned 34 years and included 306 wins, including four state titles. That carried right over to the P.J. Fecko era, which also resulted in four state championships.
Youngstown Ursuline won three consecutive state titles beginning in 2008.
However, not all historic runs are part of history. Some are playing out on area football fields in 2022.
In Mahoning County, Springfield is coming off an historic three-year run which includes 13 playoff wins. During that span, the Tigers won three regional titles and became just the second area public school to advance to back-to-back state title games.
The Mike Pavlansky era in Canfield is now in its 22nd year. Under Pavlansky's guidance, the Cardinals own a 162-71 mark, which includes 11 trips to the postseason. Since 2017 - which includes a shortened 2020 COVID schedule - the Cardinals have averaged 10 wins per season.
South Range is currently riding a 22-game regular-season winning streak, dating back to Oct. 4, 2019. Since the inception of the Northeast-8, the Raiders own a 17-2 league record, despite being the smallest school in the conference.
South Range's success doesn't just span the past three years. Dan Yeagley, now in his 28th season at the school, owns a record of 232-75, with 18 playoff appearances. Yeagley's teams have logged an astounding 10 undefeated regular seasons.
"We came in here our first year and we struggled (4-6), but then we had a great second year (11-1) and ever since we've preached consistency and dedication within the program," Yeagley said. "I've been truly blessed over the years with great assistants who have made an incredible commitment to our program."
Yeagley said that he has yet to sit back and reflect on his accomplishments, noting that he gets so wrapped up in "the next game, the off-season, next year" that he has little time to focus on the past.
"We're in such a routine, we as coaches only worry about the next opponent," Yeagley said. "A game ends on a Friday night, and the next thing you know you're watching film, getting ready for next Friday. You just don't get to sit back and enjoy the moment."
Still, Yeagley makes it a point to make sure his players take the time to appreciate their hard work and accomplishments.
"Before our opener this year, I told the players to step back and feel the moment," Yeagley said. "Enjoy the crowd, the band, your teammates, the scoreboard and the music. Enjoy the moment and let it sink in."
"We talk a whole lot about letting these kids live the moment."
What Yeagley, his assistants and players don't discuss is South Range's current winning streak.
"For us it's truly one game at a time," Yeagley said. "Records are meant to be broken, streaks come to an end. One loss is never going to be our defining moment."
"Our players have always done a marvelous job of concentrating on that particular week. That's part of the reason for our success."
Columbiana County has its share of current "golden eras." Paul Cusick is in his 24th season at Crestview. Cusick's record with the Rebels is 173-81, a stellar 92 games over .500. He has led Crestview to 17 of its 18 playoff appearances.
Columbiana's Bob Spaite has more tenure than any coach in the Mahoning Valley. He is in his 29th season with the Clippers. His resume includes a 186-108 record with all 12 of the program's playoff appearances.
Hubbard is in the midst of a record-breaking run of success which began in 1999 when Jeff Bayuk led the Eagles to a 9-2 record. Bayuk would lead the Eagles to seven more consecutive non-losing seasons, then hand the reins over to Brian Hoffman. In his 15 year tenure at Hubbard, Hoffman has never experienced a losing season.
That's 23 consecutive non-losing seasons, a Trumbull County record which the Eagles (2-0) look to build on this year.
During that span, Hubbard owns a 196-61 record, which includes 11 seasons with two or fewer losses.
McDonald coach Dan Williams (156-77 overall record) has already established one Trumbull County record, and he is building on another. From 2003 to 2020, Williams led McDonald to 18 consecutive non-losing seasons - the longest streak ever in Trumbull County by a single coach.
Williams, now in his 23rd year at his alma mater, also holds the county record for the longest tenured coach at one school.
Williams was just 26-years-old when he landed his first head coaching job at Jackson-Milton, and was 30-years-old when he took over at McDonald in 2000.
"The funny thing was, I was the youngest coach on my staff at that time," Williams said. "I came back home first as an assistant, but it was kind of understood that (then head coach) Andy Golubic was grooming me to take over the program."
"McDonald was truly the only job I ever wanted. It's my home, it's where I went to school. I love the community, I love the people. A lot of coaches chase other jobs. They seek out instant gratification and go from school to school chasing talent. In my twenty-three years here, I've never applied for a single job elsewhere."
Williams said his only goal when he was hired at McDonald was to continue a decades-long tradition of success at the school.
"I put a lot of pressure on myself, and I still do because I know the history of this program," Williams said. "My being here for this long is a testament to the great kids in this town and to an unbelievably great group of assistant coaches."
Warren John F. Kennedy has enjoyed decades of excellence, but the past seven years have been especially rewarding. The span includes a state title, a pair of regional titles, two state final appearances and 24 playoff games.